Where do diaspora hangout in Freetown?

November to April are busy months for Sierra Leone due to Christmas, New Year, Easter and Independence Day (27th April) celebrations in the country. Flights are full as diaspora travel from all corners of the world to get to their motherland. The capital city is filtered with diaspora from UK, US and Europe, so the question is… where do these diaspora hangout in Freetown?

The Warehouse Evogue, Lumley Beach Road

Apart from the night club, The Warehouse Evogue hosts a pop-up beach bar during the summer months before the rains start pouring down. The trendy spot serves a range of beers, cocktails, BBQ meat and chicken. You can sit under the trees, decorated with bright lights or hover around the bar with friends, either way, it’s a very nice vibe. (Travel Tip: Wednesday’s is ladies night)

Gigibonta is an Italian ice-cream bar that’s a popular hit with the kids in Freetown. The bar is heaving with families, teenagers and young adults from abroad sipping on champagne under canopies. The bar has a variety of tasty ice-cream flavours (made from natural ingredients), cakes and biscuits all up for grabs. (Travel Tip: there’s a branch in Zambia too!)

232 Complex bar and club, Lumley Beach Road

This newly opened venue is a hot spot for diaspora living in and visiting Freetown. 232 has a restaurant, night club, VIP lounges, terrace and beach bar. It’s open everyday with club nights on Wednesday to Sunday. The music is no different to clubs in abroad playing Afrobeats, Rap, Trap, Grime and Bashment.

Cafe de la Rose, Howe Street

Open over 25 years ago, this cafe has been through a civil war and Ebola crisis, yet it is still standing. Owned by a Sierra Leonean born entrepreneur, Cafe de la Rose serves up delicious steak burgers and chicken wraps that are favourites amongst the diaspora. The cafe sticks out on the corner of Howe Street with its bright green exterior and orange perplex panels so it can’t be missed!

Balmaya, Congo Cross

Balmaya has two parts to it; a restaurant and gallery, which are popular amongst diaspora and foreign tourists who like fine dining and art. Above the restaurant, is another space that hosts exhibitions by local artists on special occasions like the Independence Day.

Been to any of these places or planning to? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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Lyande Kaikai is a Sierra Leonean born entrepreneur and the founder of My African Passport (MAP). Her passion for Africa has led her to become a leading expert in travel and tourism for the continent by promoting its countries as amazing holiday destinations.